The African Enterprise (AE) management, leadership and development training centre (MALDEC) on Saturday held a graduation dinner for its first and second cohort of practical strategic project management graduates.
Bishop Kapanga (c) receiving his certificate
The graduation dinner which was held at Platinum Hotel in the Capital City, Lilongwe, saw the award of certificates to participants who had undergone the four-week short course program.
In his remarks, guest of honor at the function, African Enterprise Malawi Board Chairperson, Rangford Chokotho, applauded the students for being part of a people who are geared to help bring positive change in the country by choosing to gain advanced knowledge in strategic project management.
“Most of the challenges that we are facing in our country today are a result of lack of strategic planning. Challenges like hunger, lack of meaningful employment and many others exist because we lack proper planning,” said Chokotho.
Chokotho further advised the graduates to use the knowledge from the program to develop themselves, their families, and workplace and contribute to the country’s development.
The two cohorts that graduated on Saturday underwent their training from October to December 2020.
The participants were drawn from various fields like business, project management, church leadership, academia and many other professional backgrounds.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Maureen Nseula Chirwa, a nurse by profession hailed the strategic project management training for helping her learn how to resolve problems with urgency.
“The course is amazing as it has helped me start making informed decisions and as a worker in the public sector, I have acquired critical thinking skills which will help me become not just a nurse, but a leader,” said Chirwa.
And, in his remarks Livingwaters Church International general secretary, Bishop Stanford Kapanda, said his participation in the course has improved the way he runs his church saying he is now implementing strategic planning skills in his approach to church management.
Among the modules, the short- course covered include practical grant proposal development, project management, project monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization, social entrepreneurship and project change management skills.
African Enterprise Malawi chief executive officer, Dr. Cornelius Huwa, revealed that the strategic project management training was designed to cut across church, business, work and personal lives to provide valuable insights to decision making.
“As a Christian organisation, we encourage people to be a solution to problems. It is amazing to hear from the graduates that our program has helped transform their thinking and approach to project management, personal management and business planning,” said Huwa.
Formerly African Evangelistic Enterprise, AE Malawi has been working in the country for the past 30 years with a mission to evangelise the cities through Word and Deed in partnership with the Church.
And through its newly established Management, Leadership and Training Centre, the organisation aims to enrich church leaders, managers, community leaders and developmental partners with cutting edge and tried principles for growth, resilience and impact for Malawi and the region.
